Casket latch



July 29,1958 PETERSON 2,845,294

CASKET LATCH Fild May 14, 1,1956

INVENTORS. E77) 25. PETEEJOM D/PV/D C'. 5541..

United States Patent Ofilice 2,845,294 Patented July 29, 1958 CASKET LATCH Ray E. Peterson, Danville, 111., and David C. Bell, Richmond, Ind.

Application May 14, '1956, Serial No. 584,516

3 Claims. 01. 292-128) This invention relates generally to latching devices and more particularly it relates to latches especially adapted for latching the cover of a wood or metal casket.

Conventional latches which have been utilized for fastening the covers of caskets in closed position are not entirely satisfactory, especially when used with metallic covers. The metallic casket made of sheet metal is not entirely rigid and is sufliciently flexible that conventional latching devices become accidentally released when the casket is carried or handled in shipment. Such accidental release prior to or after funeral services causes severe criticism of funeral directors and in this way may have a detrimental effect on their reputations and business.

The principal object of this invention is to provide' a latching device for casket covers of such character that it provides a positive fastening between the casket cover and the body of the casket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latching device of such character that maximum spring force may be applied to the catch which forms a functional part of the latch.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a latching device comprising a supporting base, said base including an extension in the form of a channel, an L- shaped dog having one leg pivoted in said channel and the other leg protruding therefrom to form a handle, said base including a housing within which a spring may be compressed and confined to provide pressure on one end of the pivoted portion of said dog.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a partial cross section of a typical casket and a side elevation view of the latch as provided in accordance with this invention and in its operative relationship to the cover and body of said casket;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the latch shown in Fig. 1 and taken from the left with respect to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an end view of the latch shown in Fig. 1 and taken from the right.

This invention provides a latch mechanism particularly adapted to cooperate with a cover of a casket, which cover includes a lower rim or flange portion 11 adapted to close into abutment with a rail section 12 of the main body of the casket. Prior art latches are usually mounted on the rim or flange member 11, whereby it is necessary that a slot be cut in the edge of the cover to permit the handle of the latch to protrude outwardly for operation. Due to the inaccessibility of the flange 11 the conventional latch mechanism must be fastened before any finishing operation is performed on the casket. Also, a slot in the edge of the cover weakens the structure making it flexible to such a degree that the cover may move when the casket is carried and cause accidental release of the latch.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a latch mechanism having a supporting base which consists of an integrally formed channel member 14 and extending ear members 15 and 16. Ear members 15 and 16 are formed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the channel member 14 which is correlated with the angle between the outer surface of cover 10 and the horizontal portion 17 of the casket body 12. Also, the channel member 14 is of suflicient length to extend downwardly through an aperture 18 in the rim 11 and through an aperture 19 formed in the rail member 17. This structure enables the casket manufacturer to mount the latch mechanism on the exterior surface of cover 10 after all finishing operations have been completed on the casket. Also, the latch may be mounted by means of screws or rivets 20 threaded into the cover 10 through the apertures 21 in the members 15 and 16. It should be noted that mounting by means of screws is not practical on the rim 11 and it has been conventional practice to use solder or a weld to attach conventional latches to rim 11.

A latch mechanism further comprises an L-shaped dog 23 having one leg thereof pivoted within channel 14 by means of a pin 24 and formed at its end to provide a hook or catch 25. The other leg of dog 23 may be formed to serve as a handle 26. In order to apply spring pressure to the dog 23, a spring confining cover 28 may be riveted to members 15 and 16 by means of rivets 29 and 30. Member 28 is formed to have a substantially cylindrical barrel portion 31 in alignment with the heel portion 32 of the dog 23. A coiled spring 33 may be compressed and confined within the barrel portion 31 and in engagement with the heel 32. It should be noted that the barrel portion 31 provides ample space for a relatively strong spring. In fact, the size of barrel 31 may be adjusted to accommodate a spring of almost any desired strength. The use of such a strong spring and the location of it at the end of the relatively long lever arm which exists between pivot 24 and heel 32 provides a high degree of pressure tending to hold the hook 25 in its latching position.

As shown in Fig. 1, the hook 25 normally latches with a punched-in lip member 34 formed when the aperture 19 is formed. As further illustrated in Fig. 1, the overall size of channel member 14 and the size of aperture 19 are almost identical so that there is a snug fit between channel 14 and the walls of aperture. 19.- This prevents the possibility of the hook 25 becoming disengaged from the lip member 34 but at the same time the book may be forced backwardly into channel member 14 as the casket cover is closed. Alternatively, the casket cover may be opened by lifting on the handle 26 and pivoting hook 25 out of engagement with lip 34.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the latch mechanism disclosed herein presents several distinct advantages in that the latch may be screwed to the outer surface of the casket cover, the structure of the casket is not weakened thereby, the latch mechanism may be mounted after all other manufacturing and finishing work is completed, and the combination of the L- shaped dog with the particular application of spring pressure provides greater spring pressure than normally obtainable and therewith much less possibility of accidental release of the latch mechanism.

The invention claimed is:

1. A latch device adapted to be mounted on an inclined surface and to latch against an underlying horizontal anhoring rail, said device comprising a supporting base having laterally extending ear members and including an extension in the form of an elongated channel, the axis of said channel forming an oblique angle with the plane of said ears and extending generally normal to the planeof the anchoring rail, 21 substantially L- shaped dog having one leg extending within said channel and the other leg protruding therefrom to form a handle, a pivot carried by said channel and supporting said one leg adjacent its free end, a latchingabutm'ent carried by the free end of said one leg and engageable with said anchoring rail, and means for urging said latching abutment into engagement with said anchoring rail comprising a spring mounted on said supporting base and bearing on the junction of said legs.

2. A latch device adapted to be mounted on an inclined surface and to latch against an underlying horizontal anchoring rail, said device comprising a supporting base adapted to be secured to the inclined surface, an elongated channel extending from one margin of said base, the axis of said channel forming an oblique angle with the plane of said base to extend generally normal to the plane of the anchoring rail, a substantially L-shaped dog having one leg extending within said channel and the other leg protruding from the upper end thereof to form a handle, a pivot carried by said channel and supporting said one leg adjacent its free end, a latching abutment carried by the free end of said one leg and engageable with said anchoring rail, and means for urging said latching abutment into engagement with said anchoring rail comprising a spring'mounted on said supporting base and bearing on the junction of said legs.

3. A latch device adapted to be mounted on an inclined surface and to latch against an underlying horizontal anchoring rail, said device comprising a supporting base adapted to be secured to the inclined surface, an elongated channel extending from one margin of said base, the axis of said channel forming an oblique angle with the plane of said base to extend generally normal to the plane of the anchoring mail, a substantially L- shaped dog having one leg extending within said channel and the other leg protruding from the upper end thereof to form a handle, a pivot carried by said channel and supporting said one leg adjacent its free end, a latching abutment carried by the free end of said one leg and engageable With said anchoring rail, a housing mounted in overlying relation to said base and including a substantially cylindrical portion, and a spring confined within said housing and bearing on the junction of said legs to provide a pressure thereon which urges said latching abutment into engagement with said anchoring rail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 243,16 1 Ross June 21, 1881 416,002 Langenau Nov. 26, 1889 793,199 Kelly June 27, 1905 2,031,302 Clark Feb. 18, 1936 2,704,219 Harsch Mar. 15, 1955 

